Loading block

ABSTRACT

A loading block for ammunition cases has a plurality of variously sized chambers on both sides thereof for holding ammunition cases during filling. Each chamber has a shelf therein enabling it to accommodate at least two different case sizes.

United States Patent 11 1 I I 1111 3,813,987

Minneman June 4, 1974 [54] LOADING BLOCK 3,244,058 4/l966 Halterstrum86/44 1 [75] lnventor: William J. Minneman, Clayton,

Ohio Primary Examiner-Leland A. Sebastian Asslgnee? MTM Moldfid ProductsCampanyv Attorney, Agent, or FirmBiebel, French & Bugg Dayton, Oh1o j 22Filedz May 10, 1972 211 App]. No.: 251,927

r v 57 ABSTRACT 52 us. (:1 86/44, 206/3, 224/20 v 511 1111. c1. F42b5/30, F42b 9/ 30 A'loadmg block for ammumtlon Cases has a Pluralny 58Field of Search 86/44; 206/3, 17; Ofvariously Sized chambers on bothSides thereof for 211/60 A 60 217/255; 224/20; 269/37 holding ammunitioncases during filling. Each chamber has a shelf therein enabling it toaccommodate at I 56] References Citd I least two different casesizes.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,185,019 5/1965 Shoffstall 86/44 10 Claims, 6Drawing Figures 1 LOADING BLOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to loading blocks, and more particularly 'to auniversal loading block adapted for holding large quantities ofammunition Cases of a wide variety of sizes for the filling thereof withpowder. The block holds the cases upright and prevents them fromwobbling while they are being filled.

In the refilling of spent ammunition cartridges, or cases, it iscustomary first to replace the primer and to re-size the neck of thecase, and then to fill the case with a measured amount of powder. Inorder to facilitate filling the case, the case is usually placed in aholder which maintains it in a convenient, upright position. The holdercustomarily accommodates a large quantity of cases of a given size, toexpedite the filling process.

Where several different cartridge sizes are to be filled, it isgenerally necessary to have a loading block adapted to each particularsize. This is not only unnecessarily costly but is also bulky and oftenquite unwieldy. 1

Alternatively, where there is nota great difference among the case sizesbeing handled, it is possible to choose one or a few loading blocksappropriate to a certain range of sizes. However, the smaller caseswithin each range are then free to wobble within the blocks, making sucha system equally cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide a loading block which can accommodate a wide variety of casesizes; a loading block, which will closely engage each case to'preventwobbling thereof regardless of the case size; a loading block which iscompact and convenient in size and use but which also has high capacity;and to accomplish the above in an inexpensive, uncomplicated, durable,easily fabricated, and high useful configuration.

Briefly, a preferred embodiment of this invention includes a framehaving a plurality of chambers attached thereto. The chambers are ofthree different sizes and are arranged in rows. The rows of the largestchambers alternate in interfitting relation with those of the smallest,for overall'compactness of the block. The intermediate size chambers arelocated on the opposite side of the block and are attached to thebottoms of the smallest chambers. The intermediate size chambers thusfit into the spaces left by the small chambers on the opposite side ofthe block, in between the bases of the large size chambers.

Inside each chamber and at the base thereof is a wall, called the shelfwall, which extends part way up into the chamber. The wall reduces thediameter of the charm v her at the base, and the top of the wall forms ashelf. A shell of one size may thus be inserted all the way to the baseof a chamber. A shell of a slightly'larger size will rest upon theshelf. The smaller shell will then be prevented by the shelf wall fromwobbling. The upper chamber walls will similarly hold the larger shell.

Also, since the graduation from-size to size within and among thevarious chambers is small, other intermediately sized cases can also beaccommodated with a minimum of wobbling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 7 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view ofthe FIG. 1 device taken along line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 1 device taken generallyalong line 5-5 thereof; and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG.1 device taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 2. 7

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings,and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the loading block10 of this invention. Loading block 10 includes a frame 11 which issupported by frame walls 12.

Thus a total of six different shell diameters can be ac- A plurality ofchambers 15 is attached in frame 11 and opens in a direction away fromone side or the other thereof. The chambers 15 are of three differentsizes, large chambers 16, small chambers 17, and intermediate chambersI8. Chambers 16 and 17 open through and in a direction away from the topside 21 of loading block 10; intermediate chambers 18 open away from thebottom 22 thereof.

Large chambers 16 are arranged in rows, five chambers in each row.Similarly, small chambers 17 are arranged in rows which interfit withand alternate with the rows of chambers 16. This arrangement providesfor maximum density of the chambers and minimizes the waste of spaceinthe loading block.

Intermediate size chambers 18 are attached to the bottoms of smallchambers 17, as may be seen in FIGS. 2; and 5. The large size chambers16 extend all the way from the top 21 to the bottom 22 of block 10 (FIG.4), but the combined depths of the small and intermediate chambers 17and 18 are such that they may be disposed oppositely from one another inthis same distance (FIG. 5). The arrangement of chambers 17 and 18 thusfurther enhances the compactness and utility of this invention, makingmaximum use of the space available therein.

Adjacent the bottom of each chamber 15 is a shelf wall 25. Shelf walls.25 are walls of limited thickness around the walls of each chamber 15,and serve to narrow the effective size or diameter of'each chamber inthe vicinity thereof. On top of each shelf wall, on the end opposite thebottom of the chamber, is a ledge or shelf 26. I

As may be seen, therefore, this invention provides numerous advantages.For example, each chamber is able to accommodate an ammunition case of.either of at least two different sizes.- For a case having a diameter nolarger than that in the base of the chamber within shelf wall 25, thecase rests upon the base of the particular chamber 15 and is preventedfrom wobbling therein by contact with shelf wall 25. On the other hand,a case of slightly larger size will rest upon shelf 26 and will beprevented from wobbling by contact with the upper portions of the wallof the chamber itself. Since three different chambers are provided, atotal of six sizes of case may be received for exact fit, and thesesizes are chosen for the six most commonly encountered cases. Whereother sizes appear, the graduations among the six sizes are sufficientlysmall that such in between sizes may easily be accommodated with aminimum of wobble.

In addition to supporting and holding the ammunition cases for loading,this invention is also useful, for example, in holding the cases in aninverted, neck down, position for cleaning and inspecting the primerpockets.

The arrangement of the chambers within the loading block provides formaximum density therein with very little waste of volume or space. Thesmall and medium size chambers are arranged with the large size chambersin interfitting rows for maximum packing density. Similarly, the smalland medium chambers are opposite each other, making maximum use of theavailable space.

Each chamber thus does double duty. in fact, the volume occupied by thesmall and intermediate size chambers actually does quadruple duty, sinceany of four different sizes may be accommodated in the space required byearlier devices to accommodate but one size. At the same time, theloading block of this invention is no larger than typical loadingdevices which can handle only a single size shell. Yet this inventionreplaces six or more of them. Furthermore, the loading block of thisinvention is uncomplicated and easy and inexpensive to fabricate. At thesame time, it is rugged and durable, thereby further enhancing itsutility.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus and that changes may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the invention which isdefined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

l. A loading block for ammunition cases comprising:

a. a frame,

b. a plurality of chambers in said frame,

c. a shelf wall inside the lower portion of each chamber wall to narrowthe effective size of each said chamber in the vicinity thereof and tosupport a case therein for filling, and

d. a shelf on the top of each said shelf wall for supporting a largercase thereon within the upper portions of each said chamber to enableeach of said chambers to accommodate a case of either of at least twodifferent sizes, for the filling thereof.

2. The loading block of claim 1 wherein a portion of said chambers opensfrom one side of said frame and a portion from another side.

3. The loading block of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of largerchambers and a plurality of smaller chambers, to enable the loadingblock to accommodate cases of any of at least four different sizes, forthe filling thereof.

4. The loading block of claim 3 wherein said chambers are arranged ininterfitting rows of alternate sizes for maximum density thereof.

5. The loading block of claim 3 wherein a portion of said chambers opensfrom one side of said frame and a portion from another side.

6. The loading block of claim 3 further comprising a plurality ofchambers of at least one additional size to enable the loading block toaccommodate cases of additional sizes, for the filling thereof.

7. The loading block of claim 6 wherein a portion of said chambers opensfrom one side of said frame and a portion from another side.

8. The loading block of claim 6 wherein chambers of at least twodifferent sizes are arranged in interfitting rows of alternate sizes formaximum density thereof.

9. The loading block of claim 6 wherein each of said chambers openingfrom said one side of said frame is mounted opposite a chamber openingfrom the opposite side of said frame.

10. A loading block for ammunition cases comprismg:

a. a frame,

b. a plurality of chambers of a large size arranged in rows in saidframe and opening from one side thereof,

c. a plurality of chambers of a small size arranged in rows in saidframe and also opening from said one side thereof, said rows beingbetween and in interfitting relation with said rows of large size formaximum density thereof,

d. a plurality of chambers of intermediate size each attached one eachto the bottoms of said small chambers and opening oppositely from theopenings in said small chambers,

e. a shelf wall inside the lower portion of each chamber wall to narrowthe effective size of each said chamber in the vicinity thereof and tosupport a case therein for filling, and

f. a shelf on the top of each said shelf wall for supporting a largercase thereon within the upper portions of each said chamber to enableeach of said chambers to accommodate a case of either of at least twodifferent sizes, and to enable the loading block to accommodate cases ofany of at least six different sizes, for the filling thereof.

1. A loading block for ammunition cases comprising: a. a frame, b. aplurality of chambers in said frame, c. a shelf wall inside the lowerportion of each chamber wall to narrow the effective size of each saidchamber in the vicinity thereof and to support a case therein forfilling, and d. a shelf on the top of each said shelf wall forsupporting a larger case thereon within the upper portions of each saidchamber to enable each of said chambers to accommodate a case of eitherof at least two different sizes, for the filling thereof.
 2. The loadingblock of claim 1 wherein a portion of said chambers opens from one sideof said frame and a portion from another side.
 3. The loading block ofclaim 1 further comprising a plurality of larger chambers and aplurality of smaller chambers, to enable the loading block toaccommodate cases of any of at least four different sizes, for thefilling thereof.
 4. The loading block of claim 3 wherein said chambersare arranged in interfitting rows of alternate sizes for maximum densitythereof.
 5. The loading block of claim 3 wherein a portion of saidchambers opens from one side of said frame and a portion from anotherside.
 6. The loading block of claim 3 further comprising a plurality ofchambers of at least one additional size to enable the loading block toaccommodate cases of additional sizes, for the filling thereof.
 7. Theloading block of claim 6 wherein a portion of said chambers opens fromone side of said frame and a portion from another side.
 8. The loadingblock of claim 6 wherein chambers of at least two different sizes arearranged in interfitting rows of alternate sizes for maximum densitythereof.
 9. The loading block of claim 6 wherein each of said chambersopening from said one side of said frame is mounted opposite a chamberopening from the opposite side of said frame.
 10. A loading block forammunition cases comprising: a. a frame, b. a plurality of chambers of alarge size arranged in rows in said frame and opening from one sidethereof, c. a plurality of chambers of a small size arranged in rows insaid frame and also opening from said one side thereof, said rows beingbetween and in interfitting relation with said rows of large size formaximum density thereof, d. a plurality of chambers of intermediate sizeeach attached one each to the bottoms of said small chambers and openingoppositely from the openings in said small chambers, e. a shelf wallinside the lower portion of each chamber wall to narrow the effectivesize of each said chamber in the vicinity thereof and to support a casetherein for filling, and f. a shelf on the top of each said shelf wallfor supporting a larger case thereon within the upper portions of eachsaid chamber to enable each of said chambers to accommodate a case ofeither of at least two different sizes, and to enable the loading blockto accommodate cases of any of at least six different sizes, for thefilling thereof.